Curler for hairstyles and permanent waves

ABSTRACT

A curler for hairstyles and permanent waves includes an elongated body, with cross sections similar to an elliptical profile and changing continuously from a minimum to a maximum extension, in relation to a selected rate. The body has opposite heads and intermediate and central portions situated between said heads. An elastic strip is stretched longitudinally to the curler elongated body and touch the heads while leaving an open space in the remaining part of the curler elongated body for locks of hair to pass therethrough.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to curlers for hairstyles andpermanent waves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Curlers of different sizes are known, adapted to be used by theoperators of the field to perform particular “curled” hairstyles, or forpermanent waves, with more or less waving according to the customer'sdesires.

[0003] A first type of curler includes a cylinder, with a stickintroduced therein.

[0004] The ends of the stick protrude from the cylinder and haveenlarged sections of different size.

[0005] The curler enlarged sections are adapted to lock a special smallelastic strip extending longitudinally with respect to the cylinder andaimed at fixing the curler during use. The diameter of the intermediateportion of the cylinder reduces progressively, so as to facilitate theoperator when rolling up a hair lock onto the curler.

[0006] A variant of this type of curler includes a cylindrical-shapedmember at the ends of which corresponding covers are fastened. Thecentral parts of the covers feature each a corresponding pin and a head,to which a suitable small elastic strip is fastened, which acts asdescribed above.

[0007] A second type of curler is flat and has slightly curved walls,connected by two sides. The flat curler has a regular thickness for theentire extension, and a slight narrowing in the central part of thesides.

[0008] The heads of the above curler feature connecting members,integral therewith and aimed at longitudinally locking a stretched smallelastic strip, which acts as described above.

[0009] A third type of curler includes two discs with a kind of barrelplaced therebetween.

[0010] The discs feature in their central part connecting members, aimedat longitudinally locking a stretched small elastic strip, so as toblock the curler during its use.

[0011] A fourth type of curler is formed by two parts: the first oneincludes a cylindrical element with pointed ends; the second partfeatures a frame made of two bars, whose length is equal to the lengthof the cylindrical portion of the first part. The first and the secondparts are joined by four circular strips.

[0012] Using this curler, the hair lock is rolled around the cylindricalelement and locked by the frame applied to the cylindrical element withpressure.

[0013] Said curlers allow to obtain “curled” or waved hairstyles,depending on the type and size of curler used.

[0014] Even if performed with care and with particular techniques, thefinal hairstyle looks unnatural, that is to say, the difference betweena natural curled/waved hairstyle and the one obtained artificially isvisible.

[0015] Moreover, in the specific case of a permanent, where it isnecessary to use acids for fixing the hairstyle, it happens that theshape of the curlers mentioned above and the pressure exerted by theelastic strip locking the hair lock damage the hair lock under theelastic strip (hair incision or cut).

[0016] If a waved permanent with a more natural effect is desired, aseries of curlers of a different size must be used, with a consequentloss of time for the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The object of the invention is to propose a curler with a simpledesign and low manufacturing costs, which allows to obtain as natural ahairstyle as possible.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to propose a curler,whose shape allows to prevent damages to the hair, and avoids undesiredfolds in the hairstyle resulting from the pressure exerted by saidelastic strip on the hair lock.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to propose a curlerwhich facilitates the operator in obtaining the desired results,accelerating the operation by reducing the quantity of curlers to beapplied.

[0020] Yet a further object of the invention is to propose a hair curlerwhich allows to obtain a varied waiving in the whole hair's length and aparticularly accentuated waiving at the hair's ends.

[0021] The above mentioned objects are obtained by the present inventionby means of a curler for hairstyles and permanent waves including anelongated body, symmetrical with respect to central vertical andhorizontal planes, said body having, along its longitudinal extension, across section continuously changing from a minimum to a maximumextension and vice-versa at a selected rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The characteristic features of the present invention will bepointed out in the following description with reference to the encloseddrawings, in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 is a top view of the proposed curler;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the proposed curler;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a section view taken along III-III of FIG. 2;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a section view taken along IV-IV of FIG. 2;

[0027]FIG. 5 shows a top view of an hair curler made according to asecond embodiment;

[0028]FIG. 6 shows a lateral view of the hair curler of FIG. 5;

[0029] FIGS. 7 to 10 show cross-sectional views taken along linesVII-VII, VIII-VIII, IX-IX and X-X of FIG. 5, respectively;

[0030]FIG. 11 shows a top view of an hair curler made according to athird embodiment;

[0031]FIG. 12 is an exploded top view of the hair curler of FIG. 11;

[0032]FIG. 13 shows a view in accordance to the arrow K of FIG. 12;

[0033]FIG. 14 shows a view in accordance to the arrow H of FIG. 12;

[0034]FIG. 15 is a side view of the curler of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] With reference to the enclosed drawings, the reference numeral 2indicates a curler for hairstyles and permanent waves, which has anelongated shape, symmetrical with respect to the central vertical andhorizontal planes.

[0036] The cross sections of the curler 2, along the longitudinalextension thereof, have a profile similar to an elliptical one with acontinuously variable cross section area.

[0037] In the example shown in FIGS. 1, 2, the curler has two heads 3,4, connected to a central portion 8 by two narrow portions 5, 6; thecross section of the central portion is smaller than the maximum crosssection of the heads.

[0038] At its ends, the curler 2 features, made integral and concentrictherewith, connecting members 88, 89, protruding outwards.

[0039] A small elastic strip 7 (of known type), stretched longitudinallywith respect to the curler, is removably fastened to the connectingmembers.

[0040] The small elastic strip 7 is in contact only with the heads 3, 4,in the region of the maximum section thereof, while it does not touchthe remaining part of the curler due to the particular shape of thecurler, which leaves an open space L, through which the hair rolled onthe curler pass.

[0041] Thus, the pressure exerted on the hair by the small strip 7 isconsiderably reduced.

[0042] Reference numeral 20 indicates the curler of the presentinvention, made in accordance to a second embodiment.

[0043] In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the curler ha two heads30,40 and two intermediate enlarged portions 80,90 connected to theheads by intermediate narrow portions 50,60.

[0044] The maximum cross section of the intermediate enlarged portions80,90 is smaller than the cross section of the heads. The cross sectionof both the intermediate enlarged portions (FIG. 8) and the heads (FIG.7) has quasi elliptical shape. The cross-sectional area varies instepless way.

[0045] The two of the intermediate enlarged portions 80,90 are connectedto each other by a central narrow portion 10, which has a circularcross-section. The circular cross-section of the central narrow portionis smaller that the cross-section of the heads and its diameter issubstantially equal to the largest dimension of the intermediate narrowportions 50,60.

[0046] At the heads, the curler 20 has, made integral and concentrictherewith, connecting members 88, 89, protruding outwards, to which thesmall elastic strip 7 is removably fastened, stretched longitudinallywith respect to the curler

[0047] The elastic strip 7 touches only the heads 30,40, in the pointswhere they have the largest cross-section, and, due to the particularshape of the curler, a space L1 is left between the strip and thereminder of the curler for the hair to pass therethrough.

[0048] Reference numeral 200 indicates a third embodiment of the presenthair curler.

[0049] Considering its longitudinal extension, this third kind of curlerhas two cross-cuttings J,Y (FIG. 11) which define two end portions E1,E2and one central portion C of the curler.

[0050] The two of the curler end portions E1,E2 have a cross-sectionsimilar to the elliptical one already mentioned, varying in thelongitudinal direction in stepless way.

[0051] The curler central portion C has a substantially circularcross-section with a stepless varying area, which is larger at the sidesand smaller at the middle part.

[0052] The two of the curler end portions E1,E2 are fastened to thecurler central portion C.

[0053] In the example shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, the curler end portionsE1,E2 have respective heads 300,400 which are connected to relatedenlarged portions 800,900 by means of respective intermediate narrowportions 500,600.

[0054] At the cross-cutting J,Y, the enlarged portions 800,900 haverespective facings F (FIG. 14), which have first fastening means formede.g. by pins 908 and holes 909.

[0055] The curler central portion C has two facings Fc at its sides,which facings Fc have circular shape. The facings Fc have secondfastening means, which match with the first fastening means of theenlarged portions.

[0056] At the heads, the curler 200 has, made integral and concentrictherewith, connecting members 88, 89, protruding outwards, to which thesmall elastic strip 7 is removably fastened, stretched longitudinallywith respect to the curler

[0057] The elastic strip 7 touches only the heads 300,400, in the pointswhere they have the largest cross-section, and, due to the particularshape of the curler, a space L2 is left between the strip and thereminder of the curler for the hair to pass therethrough.

[0058] In non-use condition, the small elastic strip 7 of the curler2,20,200 is coupled to the connecting members 88, 89; before using thecurler, an operator must release the small elastic strip 7 from one ofthe connecting members, for example from member 89.

[0059] Then, the operator rolls a hair lock onto the curler, and locksthe latter together with the hair lock, by hooking the small elasticstrip 7 to the same connecting member 89.

[0060] It is to be pointed out that the curler 2 of the first embodimentand the curler 20 of the second embodiment are proposed in differentsizes, needed to perform the required hairstyles on different hairlengths.

[0061] Also, it should be noted that the end portions E1,E2 as well asthe central portion C of the curler 200 can be produced with differentsizes, which can be mixed, changed and coupled in accordance with thenecessity of the user.

[0062] The first embodiment of the curler for hairstyles and permanentsherein described is particularly advantageous because of its elongatedshape, symmetrical with respect to the horizontal and vertical planes,with cross sections having a profile similar to an elliptical area witha variable cross section, which allows to obtain hairstyles orpermanents with a more natural look.

[0063] The natural effect is obtained due to the fact that the hair lockthat the operator rolls onto the curler has areas with a differentwaving; more precisely, the waves are more marked for the hair rolled atthe narrow portions 5, 6, and less marked for the hair rolled on thecentral portion 8.

[0064] The second and third embodiments of the curler for hairstyles andpermanents herein described are capable of making waiving which resemblevery natural along the whole hair's length. More precisely, the waivingis more accentuated in the hair wound around the narrow portions50,60;500,600 and less accentuated in the hair wound around the enlargedportions 800,900.

[0065] Moreover, the fact that the central portions have a circularcross-section and that a hair lock is wound thereon, makes it possibleto obtain a more accentuated waiving at the ends, so as to increase thenatural resembling effect.

[0066] The proposed curler allows to obtain waves with a natural effect,since all the curlers used by the operator have identical size, thusallowing the operator to save time when applying the same.

[0067] Moreover, the number of curlers to apply is reduced, thusobtaining a better final result; in fact, as different waves areobtained on each curler, it is no longer necessary to apply a series ofcurlers of different size to obtain a similar effect.

[0068] The shape of the curler is advantageous also because the pressureof the elastic strip 7 on the rolled hair lock is very slight, whichallows to avoid undesired folds near the elastic strip and, in casehairstyle fixing acids are used, the hair lock under the elastic stripis not damaged.

[0069] It is understood that what above, has been described as a pure,unlimited example, therefore, possible variants of the invention remainwithin the protective scope of the present technical solution, asdescribed above and claimed hereinafter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A curler for hairstyles and permanent wavesincluding an elongated body, symmetrical with respect to centralvertical and horizontal planes, said body having, along its longitudinalextension, a cross section continuously changing from a minimum to amaximum extension and vice-versa at a selected rate.
 2. A curler asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated body has cross-section withshape similar to an elliptical profile.
 3. A curler as claimed in claim2, wherein said elongated body includes: two heads; a central portion;and two narrow portions, for connecting said central portion to saidheads; said central portion having cross-section smaller than themaximum cross section of said heads.
 4. A curler as claimed in claim 3wherein said elastic means are stretched longitudinally with respect tosaid curler elongated body and touch said heads only in the region of amaximum section thereof, while they leave an open space in the remainingpart of said curler elongated body for rolled hair to pass therethrough.5. A curler as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated body has acircular cross-section in the region of a central portion andcross-section similar to an elliptical profile in the remainder of thebody.
 6. A curler as claimed in claim 5, wherein said elongated bodyincludes: two heads; two intermediate enlarged portions; twointermediate narrow portions, for connecting said heads to saidintermediate enlarged portions; a central narrow portion for connectingsaid intermediate enlarged portions to one another; with saidintermediate enlarged portions having a central part with cross-sectionsmaller than the largest cross-section of said heads: and with centralnarrow portion having cross-section smaller than the largest crosswisedimension of said heads, and diameter equal to the largest crosswisedimension of said intermediate narrow portions.
 7. A curler as claimedin claim 6 wherein said elastic means are stretched longitudinally withrespect to said curler elongated body and touch said heads only in theregion of a maximum section thereof, while they leave an open space inthe remaining part of said curler elongated body for rolled hair to passtherethrough.
 8. A curler as claimed in claim 5 wherein said elongatedbody includes two separated end portions and a central portion connectedto said end portions, with each end portion of said end portionsincluding: one head; an enlarged portion; and an intermediate narrowportion for connecting said head to said enlarged portion; with eachenlarged portion of said enlarged portions having a facing with firstfastening means and with said central portion having two oppositefacings with second fastening means capable of coupling with said firstfastening means.
 9. A curler as claimed in claim 8 wherein said elasticmeans are stretched longitudinally with respect to said curler elongatedbody and touch said heads only in the region of a maximum sectionthereof, while they leave an open space in the remaining part of saidcurler elongated body for rolled hair to pass therethrough.
 10. A curleras claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has opposite ends withconnecting members protruding outwards, with elastic means removablyfastened to said connecting members.
 11. A curler as claimed in claim10, wherein said elongated body includes: two heads; a central portion;and two narrow portions, for connecting said central portion to saidheads; said central portion having cross-section smaller than themaximum cross section of said heads.
 12. A curler as claimed in claim 11wherein said elastic means are stretched longitudinally with respect tosaid curler elongated body and touch said heads only in the region of amaximum section thereof, while they leave an open space in the remainingpart of said curler elongated body for rolled hair to pass therethrough.13. A curler as claimed in claim 10, wherein said elongated bodyincludes: two heads; two intermediate enlarged portions; twointermediate narrow portions, for connecting said heads to saidintermediate enlarged portions; a central narrow portion for connectingsaid intermediate enlarged portions to one another; with saidintermediate enlarged portions having a central part with cross-sectionsmaller than the largest cross-section of said heads: and with centralnarrow portion having cross-section smaller than the largest crosswisedimension of said heads, and diameter equal to the largest crosswisedimension of said intermediate narrow portions.
 14. A curler as claimedin claim 13 wherein said elastic means are stretched longitudinally withrespect to said curler elongated body and touch said heads only in theregion of a maximum section thereof, while they leave an open space inthe remaining part of said curler elongated body for rolled hair to passtherethrough.
 15. A curler as claimed in claim 10 wherein said elongatedbody includes two separated end portions and a central portion connectedto said end portions, with each end portion of said end portionsincluding: one head; an enlarged portion; and an intermediate narrowportion for connecting said head to said enlarged portion; with eachenlarged portion of said enlarged portions having a facing with firstfastening means and with said central portion having two oppositefacings with second fastening means capable of coupling with said firstfastening means.
 16. A curler as claimed in claim 15 wherein saidelastic means are stretched longitudinally with respect to said curlerelongated body and touch said heads only in the region of a maximumsection thereof, while they leave an open space in the remaining part ofsaid curler elongated body for rolled hair to pass therethrough.